Columns of record throwers of the automatic record players

ABSTRACT

An automatic record player changer mechanism which includes a cylindrical column having a longitudinal groove within the column running the entire length thereof, a first lever of less length than the groove positioned therein, and pivotable near its midpoint about a fulcrum, a record supporting tooth near the top end of the lever creating a perforation in the column and a small axially movable second lever above the tooth composed of two identically rolled pieces each having a curved slot therein and positioned within the groove by passage of a pin through the slots and column. The first lever has a perforation therein near its upper end into which a ball is positioned. The longitudinal groove has a transverse groove in each side thereof extending upwardly toward the tooth and into which the ball is placed so that upon pivoting the first lever about the fulcrum the lever moves in an ascending or descending transverse direction to the axis of the column.

United States Patent [191 Vega [ Dec. 3, 1974 COLUMNS OF RECORD THROWERS OF THE AUTOMATIC RECORD PLAYERS [76] Inventor: Raul Antonio Vega, Vieytes 1386 Martinez, PCIA de Buenos Aires, Argentina [22] Filed: Nov. 20, 1973 21 Appl. No: 417,573

Primary ExaminerLouis R. Prince Assistant ExaminerSteven L. Stephan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher [5 7 ABSTRACT An automatic record player changer mechanism which includes a cylindrical column having a longitudinal groove within the column running the entire length thereof, a first lever of less length than the groove positioned therein, and pivotable near its midpoint about a fulcrum, a'record supporting tooth near the top end of the lever creating a perforation in the column and a small axially movable second lever above the tooth composed of two identically rolled pieces each having a curved slot therein and positioned within the groove by passage of a pin through the slots and column. The first lever has a perforation therein near its upper end into which a ball is positioned. The longitudinal groove has a transverse groove in each side thereof extending upwardly toward the tooth and into which the ball is placed so that upon pivoting the first lever about the fulcrum the lever moves in an ascending or descending transverse direction to the axis of the column.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEL DEB 974 SHEET 10F 2 COLUMNS OF RECORD THROWERS OF THE AUTOMATIC RECORD PLAYERS The present invention relates to an automatic record player changer mechanism to prevent records from following immediately the one which has been displaced and falling onto the record player turntable but posing no resistance when played records are removed from the turntable column.

The object of this invention is to provide a more efficient mechanism for the delicate operation of insuring the fall of one record from a pile of several which is based on equilibrium separation in the upper part of the column.

There are various known changers, with columns in which the separation takes place in their upper part. The means for performing the separation are in the form of a tooth, on which the records rest, and a lever, axially mounted in a longitudinal groove, which displaces itself laterally, thus initiating in combination with the tooth, above mentioned, a unit of larger diameter, than the diameter of the hole existing in the center of the record. Positioned above the first acting lever is a smaller lever which by gravity displaces itself in the same direction as the lower larger lever to produce a space between the lower larger lever and the upper smaller lever which is larger than the thickness of a single record, but less than the thickness of two records.

In order to make this mechanism work, the lower larger lever is moved laterally and upwardly by means of the automatic arrangement, such a distance that the diameter of the tooth and lever is slightly less than the diameter of the hole existing in the record.

The smaller lever, mounted in the upper part must pose lateral resistance sufficient to prevent the records following immediately the one which has been displaced from falling on the plate of the record player. However, when the records already used are withdrawn. the smaller lever must slip upwardly without posing any resistance, because a stoppage can cause damage of the record hole to such an extent that the record might not be playable again.

The above is a consequence of mechanism of a high precision but of simple construction. Experience has proven that any system of separate parts, acting with a certain degree of hardness" or losing its agility, must be eliminated when the device had been used for an ex tended time or there are accumulations of grease and dirt.

Because of these improvements not only are these inconveniences avoided, but also a mechanism of higher precision, helping in the efficiency of the power ar' rangement, is reached.

According to the present invention a column, axially grooved, has in its upper part, under a perforation permitting lateral displacement of the head of the larger lever, a second transverse groove, directed upwardly with respect to the external flange of the tooth upon which the records are seated. This groove has two opposite walls which define the axial groove in such a way that its profile outlines a place where a small ball is freely movable, but does not have free space, in a perforation, conveniently placed in the upper part of the larger lever. The smaller upper lever is made of two identical rolled pieces, both of which together produce a thickness of substantially the same dimension as the groove in which they are put. The bottom of the groove forms a cam surface having a curved ascending shape with the same profile as the side of the smaller lever. The smaller lever leans against the groove in the manner of a sliding skate and is guided by a corresponding central groove of the smaller lever and by a pin transversely acting in the groove.

In this way when the axial lever is motivated by the automatic mechanism, it displaces itself laterally in an ascending direction with perfect security and precision. The upper smaller lever can not lock because it does not require the combination of the two pins and the two grooves for its displacement as is customary but skates down into the bottom of the groove. The pin and the groove are simply retention agents.

On the other hand, the utilization of two rolled pieces of the smaller lever, instead of using one thick piece, renders the mechanism more floating.

With the purpose of making this invention more understandable, a set of explanatory drawings is hereby attached, which shows the preferable way of.construction, but which is in no way limitative of the real achievement of the improvement appearing in the claims following this description.

Consequently, modifications may be introduced without changing the essence of the claims.

In the drawings referred to, the reference numerals correspond to equal or similar parts in which;

FIG. 1 shows a vertical diametrically longitudinal section of the column of the present invention showing the interior elements;

FIG. 2 shows the upper sector of the column of FIG. 1, from the frontal side, where the separation exists, forming a tooth for record resting;

FIG. 3 shows a portion of the elements composing the column in perspective, but corresponding to its upper part only;

FIG. 4 shows identical components in perspective composing the smaller lever;

FIG. 5 shows the upper portion of the larger lever in perspective;

FIG. 6 shows a section of the upper part of the column, at the time of its initial displacement of the record; and

FIG. 7 shows the termination of the action of FIG. 6, i.e., when the record already has been displaced.

Referring now to the drawings, it may be seen in FIG. 1, that column 1 has an axial groove 2, a larger lever 3 and a smaller lever 4.

These elements are common in various types of record throwing columns, but not in the form of the present invention. The new operative means by which the elements cooperate attain a better result.

The larger lever 3 has a head 3 making possible independently its regress toward the rear of the column because of the loss of balance which it initiates when the same is permitted by the acting mechanism.

In each wall of the upper part of groove 2 there is a transverse groove 5 ascending toward the outside flange of tooth 6, initiating the separation 7.

As may be seen in FIG. 2, the groove 5 forms a path in which ball 8 moves freely, but without free space in perforation 9 formed in larger lever 3. This may clearly be seen in FIG. 5.

Smaller lever 4 is composed of two thin independent identical pieces (see FIG. 4), having a contoured side 4 coinciding with cam surface 10' of the upper groove 10. The smaller lever also has a perforation in its center, in the form of a curved groove 11 which is pierced by a pin 12 crossing column 1 when assembled.

The exact position of the relative parts, as well as their relative functional size, may be seen in FIGS. 2 to 5.

When the mechanism is in a position of rest, the larger lever 3 and the smaller lever 4 are in the position as shown in FIG. 1. As a consequence of the displaced diameter formed by the separation 7 and the outside flange of the smaller lever 4, when records A-B-C are introduced onto the column 1 the records will remain mounted on the tooth 6 and aligned by a conventional record-press, not shown in the drawings.

When the mechanism of the record-player determines that a record is to be positioned on the turntable, the tail 3" of the larger lever 3 is moved in the direction of the arrow and then because of the fulcrum 13 constituted by a pin and by a runner, the head 3' displaces itself in the opposite direction.

As a consequence of the above, the ball 8, rolls inside the path, provided by transverse grooves toward tooth 6. The upper end of lever 3 at this time inserts itself in the hole of the record A with the tendency to center the record on column 1, as may be seen in FIGv 6. This is possible because the distance between lever 3 and lever 4 is only slightly larger than the thickness of record A. Because of this distance record B can not at that time be moved in the same direction.

When the lateral movement of lever 3 is finished, as shown in FIG. 7, record A is perfectly centered on the column 1, which is of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the hole in the record. As a result the record will fall onto the turntable of the record-player, as may be seen from the arrows b. Simultaneously record B will descend to occupy the position which had previously been the position of record A.

Lever 3 then returns to its position of rest and the new cycle will begin when the automatic mechanism determines the need for a new record.

When all records have passed, they are manually withdrawn without any impediment because the curved back 3a of the lever 3 will retract into the groove and the curved cam surface 10 of the groove 10 permits the ascension of lever 4.

In this way the projecting tooth will not constitute an obstacle.

What is claimed is:

1. Automatic record player changer mechanism comprising a cylindrical column having a longitudinal groove within said column and running the entire length thereof. a first lever of less length than the groove positioned within the groove and having a tub crum near the midpoint ofthe lever, said first lever having a perforation therein near its upper end-into which a ball is positioned, a record supporting tooth in the column near the top end of the lever where the record is positioned until freed by the lever, said tooth creating a perforation in the column. said groove near the top of said first lever having on both sides thereof generally transverse grooves extending upwardly toward the tooth and into which transverse grooves the ball is placed so that upon pivoting of the lever transverse to the axis of the column about the fulcrum the lever moves in an ascending or descending direction and releases the bottom most record from the tooth, and a small axially movable lever above the tooth composed of two identically rolled pieces each having a curved slot therein and positioned within the longitudinal groove by means of a pin passing through said slots and column. said small lever being positioned to hold the second record as the bottom most record is released.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the column is perforated below the tooth to permit one edge of the first lever to meet the outer surface of the column.

3. The mechanism of claim I, wherein the side of the groove in the portion of the column near the small lever is curved and causes the small lever in its downward movement to also move in a direction away from the 

1. Automatic record player changer mechanism comprising a cylindrical column having a longitudinal groove within said column and running the entire length thereof, a first lever of less length than the groove positioned within the groove and having a fulcrum near the midpoint of the lever, said first lever having a perforation therein near its upper end into which a ball is positioned, a record supporting tooth in the column near the top end of the lever where the record is positioned until freed by the lever, said tooth creating a perforation in the column, said groove near the top of said first lever having on both sides thereof generally transverse grooves extending upwardly toward the tooth and into which transverse grooves the ball is placed so that upon pivoting of the lever transverse to the axis of the column about the fulcrum the lever moves in an ascending or descending direction and releases the bottom most record from the tooth, and a small axially movable lever above the tooth composed of two identically rolled pieces each having a curved slot therein and positioned within the longitudinal groove by means of a pin passing through said slots and column, said small lever being positioned to hold the second record as the bottom most record is released.
 2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the column is perforated below the tooth to permit one edge of the first lever to meet the outer surface of the column.
 3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the side of the groove in the portion of the column near the small lever is curved and causes the small lever in its downward movement to also movE in a direction away from the tooth. 